--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The solution had taken a terrific toll…" description: "\"“The solution had taken a terrific toll. The restless turning of the mind tormented by a puzzle, the preoccupation at meals, the insomnia, the sudden w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/david-kahn-13896_hope_the-solution-had-taken-a-terrific-toll-t_2219879.jpg" --- # The solution had taken a terrific toll. The restless… ![“The solution had taken a terrific toll. The restless turning of the mind tormented by a puzzle, the preoccupation at meals, the insomnia, the sudden wakening at midnight, the pressure to succeed because failure could have national consequences, the despair of the long weeks when the problem seemed…” quote by David Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/david-kahn-13896_hope_the-solution-had-taken-a-terrific-toll-t_2219879.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/david-kahn-13896_hope_the-solution-had-taken-a-terrific-toll-t_2219879.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/david-kahn-13896_hope_the-solution-had-taken-a-terrific-toll-t_2219879.jpg) > ““The solution had taken a terrific toll. The restless turning of the mind tormented by a puzzle, the preoccupation at meals, the insomnia, the sudden wakening at midnight, the pressure to succeed because failure could have national consequences, the despair of the long weeks when the problem seemed insoluble, the repeated dashings of uplifted hopes, the mental shocks, the tension and the frustration and the urgency and the secrecy all converged and hammered furiously upon his skull. He collapsed in December.”” [David Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense mental pressure from an unsolvable problem can cause severe stress and physical collapse. **In simple terms:** Extreme mental strain can ruin health. Key Takeaway Recognize limits and seek help early. Themes stress solving health pressure Mood anxious intense Type cautionary reflective When to use this quote - research labs - cryptanalysis - high‑stakes projects - long‑term investigations - intense problem solving Key Concepts cognitive overload burnout secrecy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance dedication with self‑care? - What signs indicate you’re reaching a breaking point? A Different Perspective Even brilliant minds need rest and support to avoid breakdown. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) ## Related quotes > [“As he fell asleep, his mind tormented him with the image of one face; the man he had thought was his father. 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Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher-2/) Browse all 127 Collapsed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The solution had taken a terrific toll. The restless turning of the mind tormented by a puzzle, the preoccupation at meals, the insomnia, the sudden wakening at midnight, the pressure to succeed because failure could have national consequences, the despair of the long weeks when the problem seemed insoluble, the repeated dashings of uplifted hopes, the mental shocks, the tension and the frustration and the urgency and the secrecy all converged and hammered furiously upon his skull. 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